National recovery plan for the Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis 2002 - 2006
Conservation of old-growth dependent mallee fauna
Prepared by David Baker-Gabb for the Black-eared Miner Recovery Team, February 2001
(Revised February 2003)
7. Recovery Objectives, Criteria and Actions
- Objective 1 Manage, review and report on the Recovery Program
- Objective 2 Refine knowledge of distribution and abundance
- Objective 3 Maintain and enhance habitat
- Objective 4 Monitor Black-eared Miner colonies
- Objective 5 Control genetic introgression of the Black-eared Miner
- Objective 6 Maintain captive populations of Black-eared Miners
- Objective 7 Increase numbers and quality of Black-eared Miner colonies in Victoria and New South Wales
- Objective 8 Use population viability modelling
- Objective 9 Communication to increase community awareness and involvement
1 Manage, review and report on the Recovery Program
The Black-eared Miner Recovery Program is a complex, multi-disciplinary operation covering a wide range of organisational, biological, technical, management and social issues. On the other hand, some issues are simplified because all land containing Black-eared Miners is reserved for conservation. The Recovery Team has members representing 14 agencies and organisations with an interest in, and responsibility for, Black-eared Miner conservation (Appendix 1).
Objective 1
- To maintain an effective Recovery Team which organises, reviews and reports on the recovery effort.
- Action 1.1 Operate the Recovery Team
- Action 1.2 Manage the Captive, Field and Land Management Groups
- Action 1.3 Black-eared Miner Action Statement for Victoria
- Action 1.4 New South Wales Recovery Plan
- Action 1.5 Recovery Program annual review and reporting
- Action 1.6 Recovery Program termination criteria
Criteria
- Progress towards meeting the Recovery Plan objectives and actions is achieved on time with high levels of community, institution and Government stakeholder support and involvement. Progress is evaluated and reported on annually to relevant organisations.
Action 1.1 Operate the Recovery Team
- Appoint a part-time Recovery Team Convenor to organise meetings, to prepare minutes and organise annual reviews of progress, to communicate and liaise both within and outside the Recovery Team, and to ensure that Recovery Team members fulfil their agreed responsibilities.
- Identify targets, responsibilities and timelines for the completion of actions, as well as monitor and assess implementation of the Recovery Plan.
Responsibility: BeMRT
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeMRT Other |
10
19 |
10
20 |
10
21 |
10
22 |
10
23 |
| Total Cost |
29
|
30
|
31
|
32
|
33
|
Action 1.2 Manage the Captive, Field and Land Management Groups
- Establish a Land Management Group to coordinate the recovery efforts of Bookmark Biosphere Reserve land managers.
- Oversee the day-to-day implementation of operational aspects of the recovery effort, and communicate with field staff, land managers and captive population managers.
Responsibility: BeMRT
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeMRT |
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
| Total Cost |
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
Action 1.3 Black-eared Miner Action Statement for Victoria
- Revise the Action Statement for the Black-eared Miner (Fitzherbert et al 1992) which is overdue for review and updating.
Responsibility: NRE
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRE Other |
3
0 |
0
0 |
0
0 |
0
0 |
0
0 |
| Total Cost | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Action 1.4 New South Wales Recovery Plan
- Produce a Recovery Plan for New South Wales with more operational detail for that State as required under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
Responsibility: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPWS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Cost | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Action 1.5 Recovery Program annual review and reporting
- Undertake an annual review and evaluation to ensure recovery objectives are being met. Report results to participating organisations and provide a summary for the general public.
Responsibility: BeMRT
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeMRT |
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
| Total Cost |
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
Action 1.6 Recovery Program termination criteria
- Develop termination criteria for the Recovery Program, and include a time-frame for various stages of recovery, plus the determination of success and failure criteria for captive and field management.
Responsibility: BeMRT
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeMRT | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Cost | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objective 2 Refine knowledge of distribution and abundance
- Action 2.1 Undertake field surveys in South Australia
- Action 2.2 Undertake field surveys in New South Wales
- Action 2.3 Undertake field surveys in Victoria
Recent surveys have covered substantial areas of the Black-eared Miner's likely range in three States, but there are still areas of potential habitat in all States to be searched. An improved knowledge of colony numbers, quality and density is also essential for assessing the cost of translocations on donor populations, and for knowing when recovery program goals have been achieved.
Criteria
- Colony numbers refined in the Bookmark region, and potential translocation sites in Victoria (3) and New South Wales (1) surveyed during 2002-04.
Action 2.1 Undertake field surveys in South Australia
- Define the boundary of Black-eared Miner occurrence in the Bookmark region, and survey likely habitat south of the Murray River.
- Use Malleefowl grids and transects to refine estimates of colony numbers, quality and density in the Bookmark region.
Responsibility: LTU, ALT, BA
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTU | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ALT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Cost | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Action 2.2 Undertake field surveys in New South Wales
- Undertake further searches of the Scotia mallee land system before translocating birds there.
Responsibility: NPWS
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPWS | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Cost | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Action 2.3 Undertake field surveys in Victoria
- Survey past colony locations and particularly areas in the western and eastern Murray-Sunset National Park and Wyperfeld National Park before translocations take place.
Responsibility: NRE, PV
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRE PV |
2
4 |
2
4 |
2
4 |
0
0 |
0
0 |
| Total Cost |
6
|
6
|
6
|
0 | 0 |
Objective 3 Maintain and enhance habitat
- Action 3.1 Planning to protect habitat from wildfire in South Australia
- Action 3.2 Upgrading works to protect habitat from wildfire in South Australia
- Action 3.3 Implement the Fire Management Plan to protect habitat from wildfire in South Australia
- Action 3.4 Protect habitat from overgrazing in South Australia
- Action 3.5 Protect habitat critical for survival in NSW and Victoria
Appropriate on-ground works to control wildfires have been implemented in Victoria and NSW, but much more is needed in parts of the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, the core of the Black-eared Miner's distribution. Further decommissioning of artificial water points is also required to control total grazing pressure, reduce the threat of genetic introgression, and help increase numbers of Black-eared Miners.
Criteria
- A coordinated Fire Response Plan for the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve produced by 2002. Fire history mapping completed for the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve mallee by 2002 and a Fire Management Plan completed by 2003. All non-essential artificial water points in mallee closed and revegetated, and replaced with above-ground tanks as necessary for fire fighting by 2004. An agreed system of strategic fire breaks commenced by 2004.
Action 3.1 Planning to protect habitat from wildfire in South Australia
- Produce a coordinated Fire Response Plan for the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve.
- Undertake fire history mapping of mallee in the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve and produce a Fire Management Plan.
Responsibility: ALT, BA, DEH
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALT BA DEH |
2
2 10 |
2
2 40 |
0
0 0 |
0
0 0 |
0
0 0 |
| Total Cost |
14
|
44
|
0 | 0 | 0 |
Action 3.2 Upgrading works to protect habitat from wildfire in South Australia
- Implement the Fire Response Plan and improve on-ground fire control measures including upgrading fire access tracks.
Responsibility: ALT, BA, DEH
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALT BA DEH |
20
5 10 |
0
0 0 |
0
0 0 |
0
0 0 |
20
10 10 |
| Total Cost |
35
|
0 | 0 | 0 |
35
|
Action 3.3 Implement the Fire Management Plan to protect habitat from wildfire in South Australia
- Install above-ground water tanks (2003) new fire access tracks (2004), and narrow, linear fire breaks (2004-06).
Responsibility: ALT, BA, DEH
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALT BA DEH Other |
0
0 0 0 |
0
0 0 15 |
5
5 5 10 |
5
5 5 0 |
5
5 5 0 |
| Total Cost | 0 |
15
|
25
|
15
|
15
|
Action 3.4 Protect habitat from overgrazing in South Australia
Based on a study of introgression potential, implement the strategic closure of non-essential artificial water points in Bookmark and revegetate these sites.
Responsibility: ALT, DEH
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALT DEH Other |
5
5 10 |
5
5 10 |
5
5 10 |
0
0 0 |
0
0 0 |
| Total Cost |
20
|
20
|
20
|
0 | 0 |
Action 3.5 Protect habitat critical for survival in NSW and Victoria
- Conduct an audit of fire control measures and any remaining artificial water points in Victorian and New South Wales mallee reserves where Black-eared Miners are to be translocated and upgrade as necessary.
- Integrate the Tarawi/Scotia and Danggali fire response plans.
Responsibility: PV, NRE, NPWS, DEH
| Source | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PV NRE NPWS DEH |
1
1 6 1 |
1
1 1 0 |
1
1 0 0 |
1
1 0 0 |
1
1 0 0 |
| Total Cost |
9
|
3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |